keep' m\um. "Papa," said four-year-old Grace one evening, "mamma whipped me to-day. I wish you hadn't married such a strict woman!" Tommy: "I don't think auntie will stay; she didn't bring any luggage." Johnny: "Huh! Look how Ions the. baby has stayed, and he didn't bring anything." Hardup: "You see this half-dollar?" ? : "Yes. Why? Is there anything extraordinary about it?" Hardup: "Rather! It's mine." . "What is the hardest thing to lean? about farming?" inquired the visitor. "Gettin' up at five o'clock in the . mornin'!" replied Farmer Corntossel. Whangs:- "Is your wife a good conversationalist?" Bangs: "She would be. but for one thing. She talks so fluently that she interrupts herself." Salesman: "You'll find these good\x=req-\ wearing socks, sir." Customer: "Rather loud, ain't they?" Salesman: "Yes, sir. But that keeps the feet from going to sleep." "Such a perfect gentleman!" gusli-, ied Miss Softwin. "It was so good ;of you to introduce him to me last night, dear. We had a mo...

ABETTERS' STOVE WORKS. • , Sydney; Friday. i - Metters', stove works at Alexandria closed down yesterday-, and 250 hands will be idle. This is due to fric-. •tion . between a section of the men and the management over one of the fitters, who lias been put off because of a shortage; of work in his section. His. comrades have refused ~to con-, tinue without him.

. ANNUAL LABOR REPORT. Sydney, Friday.' . The annual report of the;N.S.W. Political Labor League foreshadows further taxation^ Tlie report regrets that the Government so far has taken no steps to abolish-the Legislative' Council.:

'S BEEN MAKING PROFITS? The Fifield Deposits. Australia abounds in rare minerals and precious gems, but the industry of mining for them is crushed by the weight of the greed of the middleman. Take opal, wolfram, platinum, and such precious gems as sapphires, emeralds, diamonds, or topazes, and rubies. On the opal fields of N. S. Wales and Queensland, the miner is fleeced of 90 per cent, of the value of his finds, because he either doesn't Tcnow their value, or he doesn't possess the necessary capital to take them personally to the world's markets. The lapidary's buyer comes along at rare intervals, offers him in cash about one-tenth of the value of his opal, and he Is compelled to accept the offer, and so he goes in search of a mineral or metal for which a local market has established a fair price,\x=req-\ and the opal mining industry languishes. For scores of years—-from the days of the Palmer back o' Cook-, town, in Queensland—vast deposists of wolfram, which, with molybdenite and...

WHAT EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW. Every woman should know tliat surgical operations *are at all times most dangerous. Before submitting to an operation, with all its attendant uncertainty, inquiry should be made as to wlither there is any alters fi;ve remedy. The home treat as adopted by the Ladies' College of Health, has been successfully used in thousands of cases where an operation was said to be the only cure. The treatment is inexpensive, and may be used in one's home. A book, telling about this grand treatment, will be sent free on receipt of 2d stamp for postage. Address letters to Dept. A.M., Ladies' College of Health, 177 Liverpool\x=req-\ street, Sydney.* She (flattering with eyes and voice): "Arthur dear, I find that we still need a few things to make.our little household more serviceable." He: "What is it now?" She: "Well, for instance, we need a new hat for me!" ! I

OUR LADIES' LETTER. BB0-r8\\ V ' % (By Reseda). Poor' tjSydneyites have been absolutely gTilling this summer. A blazingly hot sun lias poured its fiercest beams on their relentless heads, and the powers that be in certain quarters deny a liberal use of water. Oh, they dream of watery paradises, where the cool refreshing liquid is supplied in a superfluous abundance, and only wake to dry reality of a limited aquarian supply, and an unlimited outpouring of curses is the concomitant ill. The result is a big exodus from Sydney to the waterside resorts, or to the mountains. Oh, the penalty of a trip to the mountains! Flies in millions, and a shortage of water once more. Visitors are denied the refreshing luxury of a bath. The two men of the hour In Sydney are John M'Cormack and Mr Speaker Willis. Both have one thing in common—they use their voices, though in slightly different ways. Mr Willis' concerts are more or less private, whilst with John M'Cormack, the more publicity the better fo...

MR PRICE'S COMPLAINT. • Sydney, Friday. ■ Mr 'Atkinson Price, M.Ii.A.,- declares that the people are bitterly complaining over the delay that is taking place in the construction of the North Coast railway. The section between Dungog and Gloucester is almost at a staft adds that/tlie peou are heartily disgust suit .of day labor and the apathy.of the &amp;lt;3overrirnent in connection with carrying out the line.

JOTTINGS. Michael M'Auliffe, of unsound mind, was yesterday conveyed to Sydney'" by 'Const. Iverach, and will abide for some time to come_in' :'the hospital for the insane at Parramatta. The country out Bedgerabong way is blooming with verdure, and selectors out that way are so encouraged that they are, at the conclusion of their year's exemption from residential conditions, now entering into actual possession, and building, homes for themselves, and this is especially noticeable around Gunningbland.' O.O. (Old Orkney Scotch whisky). Of unexcelled quality. A peerless wnisky.* At Foy's stud farm, between Parkes and Bogan Gate, twenty thoroughbred brood mares, which had been sent to Victoria for stud pur-:: poses, returned home, having disembarked at Parkes.. We understand that Mr Foy is about; to build a big place nearer Bogan Gate, and to cut up his other holding along the line. for closer, settlement. Messrs W. K. Garnsey, Senr., have received instructions from Mrs G. Search (who i...

CURRENT TOPICS. THE POLICEMAN'S LOT. The police department is making_ frantic efforts to enrol,foot,-police, and advertisements-appear in the metropolitan dailies inviting applicants. ' Despite statements to the Fcontrary, it is a generally accepted fact' that the police force offers no inducement for the fine type of vigorous men who, in the past, joined it, and the reasons are not. far , to. seek. One is that the pay has been virtually reduced by the increased" cost of living. -Whilst the latter day wages boards have increased the wages of artisans and laborers, the cost of ilving has rushed !up".in a stilll greater proportion, leaving the policeman with the same old salary that once possessed a much higher purchasing power. Another reason is - the poor prospect of promotion that stares the young recruit in the ' face, and this is particularly marked in the cases of policemen stationed in the country, many of ■'whom seem to be entirely overlooked. We have two instances: in Forbes ...

FEDERAL CORRESPONDENCE, Mr T. Brown, M.P., furnishes us. with, the following: — Trundle-Bogan Gate Service.—The tender of E. Peters, Bogan Gate, has been accepted for ail increased por\x=req-\ terage service (three times a week) between Bogan Gate and Trundle, by vehicle drawn by two horses. The date of service is from 1st proximo to December 31, 1914. TrundlerMoira1 Mail Service.—In view of the yearly revenue (approximately £86), approval has been given to a reduction to once weekly, and the tender of Elwyn Atkinson, £135, for two years, has been accepted, but on the understanding that the service . be performed biweekly for £195 per year, if required. :

AN ANCIENT EDIFICE. Tlie'very old house at the corner of.Court and Laclilan streets, which sits in lowly obeisance to the towering post office opposite, is about to be tenantless for the first time for half a century. Mr Robert Officer, land agent, occupied it for the past three years, but .he has now taken chambers in the cool and commodious Jemalong Shire Hall. The1 old house has a history. It was first built in 1SG1, for Dr. Parkes, when there was no post office opposite. It was then quite a pretentious edifice, and. though built of wood, the white ants have not got to it after half a century. So much for the Laclilan timber, which is regrettably too. scarce. The late Mr J. F. Armstrong bought the doctor out in 1862, and carried on the business of chemist in it till seven years ago, when he died on the 18th May.